Google Play taps Boingo for free Wi-Fi in 4,000 hotspots through September

Boingo Wireless today announced that Google Play is sponsoring free Boingo Wi-Fi connections at more than 4,000 hotspots around the country through the end of September. These sponsored locations include 15 airports ( John F. Kennedy, Chicago O’Hare, Seattle-Tacoma), Manhattan subway stations, and thousands of hotels, coffee shops, and malls. In case you were wondering, Google Play is the first sponsor to utilize Boingo’s newly expanded Wi-Fi advertising network.

“Google Play is the first to take part in our newly expanded Wi-Fi sponsorship network, which reaches millions of consumers each month with place-based brand engagements,” said Dawn Callahan, vice president of consumer marketing for Boingo Wireless. “Sponsorships like this give users the free Wi-Fi they crave, advertisers the consumer interaction they need, and venues the revenue to offset the costs associated with providing a high-bandwidth Wi-Fi experience.”

FREE BOINGO WI-FI AT LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY SPONSORED BY GOOGLE PLAY

Sponsored Wi-Fi Available Starting This Week at More Than 4,000 Hotspots

LOS ANGELES – Sept. 11, 2012 – Boingo Wireless (NASDAQ: WIFI), the Wi-Fi industry’s leading provider of software and services worldwide, announced today that millions of people will have access to free Wi-Fi at more than 4,000 hotspots thanks to Google Play. The Wi-Fi hotspots are part of Boingo’s Cloud Nine Media platform, a global advertising network that enables brand advertisers to reach a captive audience through Wi-Fi sponsorships.

Starting this week, Wi-Fi users with Android phones and tablets, as well as Windows and Macintosh laptops, will be offered complimentary Wi-Fi at thousands of high-traffic locations in dozens of cities nationwide, courtesy of cloud-based digital entertainment destination, Google Play.

Consumers taking advantage of the free Boingo Wi-Fi sponsored by Google Play can get free content, check out the latest releases and stay entertained with instant access to their favorite music, movies, books, apps and more.

“Google Play is the first to take part in our newly expanded Wi-Fi sponsorship network, which reaches millions of consumers each month with place-based brand engagements,” said Dawn Callahan, vice president of consumer marketing for Boingo Wireless. “Sponsorships like this give users the free Wi-Fi they crave, advertisers the consumer interaction they need, and venues the revenue to offset the costs associated with providing a high-bandwidth Wi-Fi experience.”

The free Boingo Wi-Fi lasts through the end of September. With the recent acquisition of Cloud Nine Media, Boingo Wireless now offers brands a global advertising network that includes more than 70 leading airports, the New York City subway, shopping centers, stadiums and thousands of hotels, restaurants and recreational areas, reaching more than 1.5 billion people annually.

About Boingo Wireless

Boingo Wireless, Inc. (NASDAQ: WIFI), the world’s leading Wi-Fi software and services provider, makes it easy, convenient and cost-effective for people to enjoy Wi-Fi access on their laptop or mobile device at more than 500,000 hotspots worldwide. With a single account, Boingo users can access the mobile Internet via Boingo Network locations that include the top airports around the world, major hotel chains, cafés and coffee shops, restaurants, convention centers and metropolitan hot zones. Boingo through its Concourse Communications Group subsidiary operates wireless networks at large-scale venues worldwide such as airports, major sporting arenas, malls, and convention centers, as well as quick serve restaurants. For more information about Boingo, please visit www.boingo.com.

Boingo, Boingo Wireless, the Boingo Wireless Logo and Don’t Just Go. Boingo. are registered trademarks of Boingo Wireless, Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

In addition to smartphones and mobile gadgets, Scott has a deep appreciation for film, music, and sunflower seeds. A husband and father, he likes spending down time riding his mountain bike or binge-watching TV. Scott has overseen the day-to-day activities of AndroidGuys since 2007.

This is an interesting move. A mobile OS vendor who is paying for free WiFi for any user BUT his direct competitor.
It can’t last, and probably was only done to get the publicity they right now receive here.
WiFi is an interesting space these days. Telcos are getting into it, as well as other players such as transportation companies and city councils. It will be interesting to see how this one ends.
Here’s the list of those I view as the main players in the WiFi games: http://blogs.amdocs.com/voices/2012/08/14/who-will-win-the-wifi-olympics/